Kirk Snouffer, 59, of Chattanooga, died on Tuesday, March 25, at a local hospital after a series of illnesses.
He was born on July 1, 1948, in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of The South, magna cum laude, and pursued his legal education at the University of Texas, where he graduated as a member of the Order of the Coif.
Mr. Snouffer began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Virgil Pittman, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, where he served for two years.
In 1975, he began his private practice of law with the firm of Chambliss, Bahner, Crutchfield, Gaston & Irvine, now Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel in Chattanooga, where he has practiced ever since. He specialized in the areas of estate planning, corporate and individual taxation, retirement plans and executive compensation, real estate and business planning. He served for many years as the firm's Managing Partner. He was also the firm's self-appointed Firm Historian, and in that capacity maintained collections of anecdotes and memorabilia, both good and bad, about the present and past members and their activities. His dry wit and uncanny ability to judge character made him something of a "national treasure" within his law firm.
An avid world traveler, he and his devoted wife, Marian, enjoyed many trips abroad. His love for animals, especially his dogs and cats, was legendary and he possessed both a great love and deep understanding of the game of baseball. For many years he had been an ardent supporter of programs for protection of wildlife and the environment.
He was active in the United Way, East Tennessee Legal Aid Society and The Alumni Association of his beloved University of Texas. He was also a devoted supporter of the University of The South.
His professional memberships included the American, Tennessee and Chattanooga Bar Associations, the Chattanooga Estate Planning Council and the National Association of Bond Lawyers. He was admitted to practice before all Tennessee courts, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the US Tax Court.
He was preceded in death by his parents, W. Kirk Snouffer and Mary Snouffer of Houston, Tex.
He is survived by his wife, Marian Moreland Snouffer of Chattanooga, and a sister, Linda Rinehart of Tuttle, Okla.
Celebration of Mr. Snouffer’s life will be held Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave., with the Rev. Gene Smitherman officiating.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. on Friday at the church immediately before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, The American Diabetes Association, McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center, The Tennessee River Gorge Trust or your favorite charity.